Washington, DC (TLS). Fred Thompson likes them. So does Tom Tancredo. My grandfather loved them--he kept one in his mouth all day long and lived to be 80.
Bill Clinton smoked them. Sometimes he loved to smell them after they had been in a certain place.
This writer loves them too. But the Democrats in Congress are intent on running cigar companies out of business with a massive, unprecedented tax increase of draconian proportions.
Cigar aficionados and manufacturers were aghast upon hearing the news today that Democrats in Congress are planning on slapping a 10 DOLLAR PER CIGAR federal tax on premium stogies.
The Boston Tea Party was organized over much less of an affront to citizens that this.
For example, if a customer goes into his/her favorite cigar shop and buys three Fuentes at 3 bucks a piece, the total bill for that purchase will be at least $39.00. Nine dollars of that total will be for the cigars, and thirty dollars will be for the federal tax, and that does not even count state and local sales taxes.
Congress is justifying its robbery of the citizens by saying it will use the funds from these astronomical taxes to 'pay for child healthcare.'
To put it simply, BALDERDASH!
The proposals the Democrats have put on the table for child healthcare are simply a method for initiating socialized medicine in increments, starting with children.
And they are not just targeting the poor. They want ALL children covered by the government, regardless of need.
The Liberty Sphere has long advocated the consideration of methods to insure those who lack access to the nation's healthcare system. There are ways to accomplish this without the government taking over and dismantling American free enterprise.
We have no objection to implementing methods to cover the children of the poor. But we vehemently object to the government doing it and implementing a blanket socialized federal system that covers even those children whose parents have very good private insurance.
The Democrats hope they can pull this off by referring to the plan as a 'sin tax' to 'pay for children's healthcare.' After all, who can argue with that?
This is what they are counting on.
I don't buy it.
Their plan is a ruse to get a foot in the door of socialized medicine, using children as their first experiment. Every single one of them should be ashamed.
As for their 10-bucks-per-cigar federal tax, the outrageous, over-the-top, asinine nature of this proposal simply boggles the mind. The notion of such a thing is more evidence of the oppressive nature of Democrats with regard to taxation. They never saw a tax increase they didn't like.
And this time, apparently the bigger the increase the better.
And remember, these government thieves are planning on allowing the Bush tax cuts to expire in 2010, which will amount to the single largest tax increase in U.S. history.
Perhaps all of us cigar smokers should somehow pile up all the Democrats into a room so that we can light up and blow cigar smoke in their faces. Take that, Pelosi. Reid, here's something for your lungs!
No wonder these clowns have a national approval rating at a mere 16%.
To find out more about how the Democrats' cigar tax will effect American business, click here:
http://www.sptimes.com/2007/07/17/Business/Cigarmakers_in_a_pani.shtml
Showing posts with label cigar smoke. Show all posts
Showing posts with label cigar smoke. Show all posts
Wednesday, July 18, 2007
Thursday, April 26, 2007
The Capitalist in All of Us
Washington, DC (TLS). The venerable Walter Williams (our favorite intellectual) put forth a proposal in a recent column that put our minds into overdrive. His column was on the subject of tobacco smoke and how much smoke-free air is worth to those who seem determined to ban smoking entirely.
Williams decided to try a little experiment. It went something like this. When a sponsor called to ask Williams to deliver a keynote address, he would say, 'Yes, I will do it, but only if I am allowed to smoke.'
The last time he tried this the sponsor was a representative in the U.S. Congress who had asked Williams to deliver an address in one of the forum rooms at the U.S. Capitol. Smoking, of course, is not allowed in those particular areas.
Williams informed his sponsor that he would not come unless he were allowed to smoke.
The Congressman got permission for Williams to smoke. Why? Because he placed more value on Williams' words of wisdom than he did smoke-free air.
This got us to thinking. Perhaps we could try this experiment on a more personal level, such as a private residence.
You see, I maintain that no matter how vehemently certain persons denounce capitalism, there is a capitalist lurking inside each and every member of the human race. How do I know this? Because everyone has their price.
In this case, I wanted to know how much a smoke-free environment in a private residence was worth to the owners.
I realized there are those who cannot under any circumstance be around tobacco smoke for various reasons, such as allergies, asthma, or other various and sundry lung problems that effect breathing. In those circumstances, no price can be placed on the value of smoke-free air...in most cases. But certainly not all. Even many of those have a price. regardless of their health status.
My experiment would commence on a recent trip out of town to a place where I was covering a story in East Tennessee. I was to stay in the home of some close friends overnight. These friends are non-smokers.
After I had come in from a long day, we shared a meal and settled down to a DVD and some fine Scotch. This seemed a good time to begin my experiment. So, I asked, 'I know you folks don't smoke, but I gotta tell ya, this Scotch just seems to cry out for a good cigar. How much are you willing to take as payment for granting me permission to smoke?'
They looked at each other with an uncomfortable but amused deportment, and stated that they did not want any smoke in the house, period. It was then that I upped the ante.
'Would you take 100 bucks for the right to smoke?'
This brought forth laughter. When they saw I was dead-serious, they said, once again, 'We don't place a premium on smoke-free air.'
I calmly stated, 'Ok, I understand, but I do believe that everyone has their price. And I sure would like a cigar with this Scotch. So, would you take 500 bucks?'
The amused and uncomfortable deportment changed almost immediately to dead-seriousness.
'You would pay us 500 dollars to allow you to smoke your cigar?'
'I sure would,' I said.
They whispered to each other for a bit, and then said they didn't know if 500 would be enough, given the fact that they would need to deodorize their furniture and clothing.
Then, I dropped the biggie on them. I said, 'Ok, I want to be completely fair about this. I am willing to give you 1000 dollars to smoke. 1000 bucks...in cash.'
The wife looked at her husband in astonishment and said, 'Dang, honey, that will pay for 6 months' worth of your medication!' Her husband has a digestive disorder.
'One thousand dollars in cash, tonight, for the permission to smoke your cigar....' they said.
'That's right,' I said, '1000 big ones, cash on the barrel-head.'
They looked at each other and nodded. 'We'll take it!!'
I gave them the 1000 bucks, I lit up my cigar, and everyone was happy--that is, with the exception of that part of me that was moaning over the fact that I just dropped 1000 big ones just to prove a point.
Thus, in this case, smoke-free air inside a private residence was worth the grand sum of 1000 dollars. They can denounce smoking with all the righteous indignation they can muster--up to the 1000-dollar line of demarcation.
But 1000 dollars in cash was their price. For that price they were willing to give up on their insistence on smoke-free air.
My friends, if the price is right, most of our supposed pet peeves go flying out the window, including tobacco smoke. Everyone has a price. And that is why I maintain that inside of every single human being on earth there is a capitalist lurking.
In the frenzied mad dash of municipalities to ban smoking in bars and restaurants and other public places, perhaps business owners should demand to be paid by those municipalities for their clean air. How much is that clean air worth to the municipality? After all, it is that municipality that is demanding that business owners stop a practice inside of a privately-owned enterprise, thus meddling in the affairs of private property owners.
If those municipalities and taxpayers who demand a smoke-free environment are truly serious about the issue of smoke-free air, then how much is it worth to them? As a business owner I would demand that the municipality pay me 5000 bucks per month to prevent my customers from smoking.
If the taxpayers and the city officials think that smoke-free air is not worth 5000 bucks per month, then maybe they are not all that serious about the importance of 'clean air.' After all, I lose business when I prevent my smoking customers from smoking. Plus, you would be so pompous as to assume you have any right whatsoever to interfere in what happens on private property--which you do not. It seems to me that 5000 bucks per month is a fair price to ask for the right to dictate how I treat my customers and to insure smoke-free air.
Do I expect this to get anywhere with these collectivists who interfere in private enterprise? No. The 'pc' police in most metropolitan areas is much too strong and much too oblivious to common sense.
Williams decided to try a little experiment. It went something like this. When a sponsor called to ask Williams to deliver a keynote address, he would say, 'Yes, I will do it, but only if I am allowed to smoke.'
The last time he tried this the sponsor was a representative in the U.S. Congress who had asked Williams to deliver an address in one of the forum rooms at the U.S. Capitol. Smoking, of course, is not allowed in those particular areas.
Williams informed his sponsor that he would not come unless he were allowed to smoke.
The Congressman got permission for Williams to smoke. Why? Because he placed more value on Williams' words of wisdom than he did smoke-free air.
This got us to thinking. Perhaps we could try this experiment on a more personal level, such as a private residence.
You see, I maintain that no matter how vehemently certain persons denounce capitalism, there is a capitalist lurking inside each and every member of the human race. How do I know this? Because everyone has their price.
In this case, I wanted to know how much a smoke-free environment in a private residence was worth to the owners.
I realized there are those who cannot under any circumstance be around tobacco smoke for various reasons, such as allergies, asthma, or other various and sundry lung problems that effect breathing. In those circumstances, no price can be placed on the value of smoke-free air...in most cases. But certainly not all. Even many of those have a price. regardless of their health status.
My experiment would commence on a recent trip out of town to a place where I was covering a story in East Tennessee. I was to stay in the home of some close friends overnight. These friends are non-smokers.
After I had come in from a long day, we shared a meal and settled down to a DVD and some fine Scotch. This seemed a good time to begin my experiment. So, I asked, 'I know you folks don't smoke, but I gotta tell ya, this Scotch just seems to cry out for a good cigar. How much are you willing to take as payment for granting me permission to smoke?'
They looked at each other with an uncomfortable but amused deportment, and stated that they did not want any smoke in the house, period. It was then that I upped the ante.
'Would you take 100 bucks for the right to smoke?'
This brought forth laughter. When they saw I was dead-serious, they said, once again, 'We don't place a premium on smoke-free air.'
I calmly stated, 'Ok, I understand, but I do believe that everyone has their price. And I sure would like a cigar with this Scotch. So, would you take 500 bucks?'
The amused and uncomfortable deportment changed almost immediately to dead-seriousness.
'You would pay us 500 dollars to allow you to smoke your cigar?'
'I sure would,' I said.
They whispered to each other for a bit, and then said they didn't know if 500 would be enough, given the fact that they would need to deodorize their furniture and clothing.
Then, I dropped the biggie on them. I said, 'Ok, I want to be completely fair about this. I am willing to give you 1000 dollars to smoke. 1000 bucks...in cash.'
The wife looked at her husband in astonishment and said, 'Dang, honey, that will pay for 6 months' worth of your medication!' Her husband has a digestive disorder.
'One thousand dollars in cash, tonight, for the permission to smoke your cigar....' they said.
'That's right,' I said, '1000 big ones, cash on the barrel-head.'
They looked at each other and nodded. 'We'll take it!!'
I gave them the 1000 bucks, I lit up my cigar, and everyone was happy--that is, with the exception of that part of me that was moaning over the fact that I just dropped 1000 big ones just to prove a point.
Thus, in this case, smoke-free air inside a private residence was worth the grand sum of 1000 dollars. They can denounce smoking with all the righteous indignation they can muster--up to the 1000-dollar line of demarcation.
But 1000 dollars in cash was their price. For that price they were willing to give up on their insistence on smoke-free air.
My friends, if the price is right, most of our supposed pet peeves go flying out the window, including tobacco smoke. Everyone has a price. And that is why I maintain that inside of every single human being on earth there is a capitalist lurking.
In the frenzied mad dash of municipalities to ban smoking in bars and restaurants and other public places, perhaps business owners should demand to be paid by those municipalities for their clean air. How much is that clean air worth to the municipality? After all, it is that municipality that is demanding that business owners stop a practice inside of a privately-owned enterprise, thus meddling in the affairs of private property owners.
If those municipalities and taxpayers who demand a smoke-free environment are truly serious about the issue of smoke-free air, then how much is it worth to them? As a business owner I would demand that the municipality pay me 5000 bucks per month to prevent my customers from smoking.
If the taxpayers and the city officials think that smoke-free air is not worth 5000 bucks per month, then maybe they are not all that serious about the importance of 'clean air.' After all, I lose business when I prevent my smoking customers from smoking. Plus, you would be so pompous as to assume you have any right whatsoever to interfere in what happens on private property--which you do not. It seems to me that 5000 bucks per month is a fair price to ask for the right to dictate how I treat my customers and to insure smoke-free air.
Do I expect this to get anywhere with these collectivists who interfere in private enterprise? No. The 'pc' police in most metropolitan areas is much too strong and much too oblivious to common sense.
Friday, February 16, 2007
Muslim Congressman Calls Cops on Colleague
Washington, DC (TLS). Muslim Congressman Keith Ellison, D-MN, has called the cops on a colleague in Congress. His offense? Smoking a cigar in his own private office.
Congressman Tom Tancredo, R-CO, was enjoying a fine cigar within the confines of his private office on Capitol Hill when police came knocking at his door. The officer informed the Congressman that his colleague, Keith Ellison, who has an office next door to Tancredo's, called them because Tancredo was smoking a cigar.
Tancredo has permission to smoke within his private office as do all Congressmen. This is in spite of Nancy Pelosi's politically correct smoking ban in the foyer of Congress. This is one more example of the fact that the Nazi smoke police, the food police, the speech police, and the fat police have moved into leadership in Congress.
Apparently Muslim Keith Ellison feels that cigar smoking in one's privacy is a law enforcement issue. This is in spite of the fact that for years Washington, DC has had one of the most problematic crime rates in the nation. But nevermind that. In this crazy, mixed up world of political correctness where the individual choices of private citizens are looked upon as legal issues, apparently to light up a cigar is cause for calling out the cops. The victims of murder, robbery, and rape will just have to wait. We have the much more important task of interrogating a dreaded cigar smoker!
What a complete, unadulterated idiot.
The Liberty Sphere has warned of Keith Ellison many times, even before the November election last year. Ellison has a sordid background of supporting cop killers, even lending his support to the woman who was arrested and jailed for attempting to bomb the home of U.S. Senator Diane Feinstein of California back when Feinstein was a San Francisco government official. The Liberty Sphere had called on Congress to expel Ellison immediately upon his election for being unfit for the job. The Constitution contains a provision that allows this move, no matter what the 'voters back home' think. Obviously, the 'voters back home' in Ellison's case are about as intellectually-challenged as Ellison. The Founders believed that sometimes voters are so wrong, so blind, so brainwashed by skillful demagogues, that Congress should have a right to expel members. I can think of quite a few other than Ellison who need expulsion.
As for Tancredo's cigar, the Congressman states that he has no intention of giving it up. To that we say, BRAVO!
Perhaps somebody should knock on Ellison's door and blow cigar smoke into his face.
Congressman Tom Tancredo, R-CO, was enjoying a fine cigar within the confines of his private office on Capitol Hill when police came knocking at his door. The officer informed the Congressman that his colleague, Keith Ellison, who has an office next door to Tancredo's, called them because Tancredo was smoking a cigar.
Tancredo has permission to smoke within his private office as do all Congressmen. This is in spite of Nancy Pelosi's politically correct smoking ban in the foyer of Congress. This is one more example of the fact that the Nazi smoke police, the food police, the speech police, and the fat police have moved into leadership in Congress.
Apparently Muslim Keith Ellison feels that cigar smoking in one's privacy is a law enforcement issue. This is in spite of the fact that for years Washington, DC has had one of the most problematic crime rates in the nation. But nevermind that. In this crazy, mixed up world of political correctness where the individual choices of private citizens are looked upon as legal issues, apparently to light up a cigar is cause for calling out the cops. The victims of murder, robbery, and rape will just have to wait. We have the much more important task of interrogating a dreaded cigar smoker!
What a complete, unadulterated idiot.
The Liberty Sphere has warned of Keith Ellison many times, even before the November election last year. Ellison has a sordid background of supporting cop killers, even lending his support to the woman who was arrested and jailed for attempting to bomb the home of U.S. Senator Diane Feinstein of California back when Feinstein was a San Francisco government official. The Liberty Sphere had called on Congress to expel Ellison immediately upon his election for being unfit for the job. The Constitution contains a provision that allows this move, no matter what the 'voters back home' think. Obviously, the 'voters back home' in Ellison's case are about as intellectually-challenged as Ellison. The Founders believed that sometimes voters are so wrong, so blind, so brainwashed by skillful demagogues, that Congress should have a right to expel members. I can think of quite a few other than Ellison who need expulsion.
As for Tancredo's cigar, the Congressman states that he has no intention of giving it up. To that we say, BRAVO!
Perhaps somebody should knock on Ellison's door and blow cigar smoke into his face.
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